The US is issuing an unusual warning to Americans in Japan: Beware of Bear attacks

The US State Department is warning Americans in Japan to be vigilant as attacks and surveillance are on the rise in parts of the country.

Americans should avoid places where they see beths, especially if they are traveling alone, and know their location, the Department of State said in a “Wildlife Alert” on Wednesday. Anyone who sees a bear should report it to local authorities.

Bears have killed at least 13 people in Japan since April, more than double the five killed in the 203-2024 fiscal year, AFP reported. It’s a very large number Of the people killed by bears in Japan since the country started keeping those records in 2006. More than 100 people have been injured since April, according to environmental service statistics from late October.

Most of the attacks took place in northern Japan. In its wake, the State Department called Hokkaido and Akita prefectures, as well as Sapporo City, where officials later closed a park near the temple.

The troops have just been sent for Akita to contain the animals there. Some police are authorized to shoot animals, AFP reported.

US citizens must register for the Smart-Traveler registration system, which makes it easier to receive security messages from the State Department and allows Americans to be easily located in case of an emergency, the State Department said.

The government department always passes warnings, and every country in the world is given a Selected Travel Tips. Japan’s travel advisory level remains at level 1, travelers should use normal precautions. But it’s rare for us officials to issue wildlife warnings in another country. The State Department did not immediately respond to a question about how many such warnings have been issued.

Bears have been seen near schools, supermarkets and near the end of Iwate Hanamaki Airport. Experts say the world aging and shrinking rural population contributed to the problem. As Japan’s population shrinks, people leave rural areas and move inland.

“After that the area became a forest, so the bears have a chance to expand their range,” said biologist Koji Yamazaki, from Tokyo University of Agriculture. he told CBS news‘Elizabeth Palmer in 2023.

Local hunters are also used to bear hunting, and several preventive measures have been taken in recent years. Climate change too – affected Hears Hibernation schedules and affect the food animals depend on.

Japan has two types of bear: Asiatic black bears found throughout the country – also known as moon bears – and giant brown bears that live on the northern main island of Hokkaido. Brown bears can weigh more than 1,100 pounds and humans. Asian black bears are black and thin, weighing at least 440 pounds, according to the International Bear Research and Management Organization. Thousands of bears are transported to Japan every year.